YW CAMP

Me looking at the ground from three stories up as I teeter on a cable.

A few week ago, amidst the grilling July heat we packed my 96 Dodge Dakota and headed to Camp Edgewood in the Bayous of Louisiana.

I have attended YW camp both as a camper and adult, but this was this first time I went as a Young Women President. To say the least it was a learning experience to be at the reigns trying to make things happen logistically. We had an awesome camp director Ashley (which made my job smooth) and together after months of planning we pulled it off. We had 25 girls attend from our ward, ranging in age from 12-17. The weather, minus the obvious damp inferno of a gulf summer, was beautiful. It was mid 90's but actually cooled off into the low 80's at night and it didn't rain at all.

Amber is our 1st counselor and a great mature example I might add, she always keeps things utterly hilarious!

Typically we tent camp, but the program has grown so much that we opted for the adirondack cabins. Cabin would be a liberal definition. They had three sides with plywood bunks. Minus having to douse yourself in deet before going to bed and the point you were sleeping on a piece of plywood, they really worked out well, good airflow and lots of space.

The week was spent in certification (knots, constellations, nature classes etc), free time (which we hung at the high ropes course a lot), and just hanging out. Our whole ward got up at 6 am one morning to do the mile swim certification in the lake. I was really proud of them, even those who couldn't swim threw on a life jacket and paddled through the morning midst.

It was a great camp this year, a good mix of fun and spiritual. Over the activities, games and crafts, yw camp has one main purpose, for young women to draw closer to their Savior. Away from the frantic rush of life and the constant movement of living in the city, it’s refreshing to sit on a hill and gaze at the stars and ponder both The Creation and the Creator.